Principal Cardiac Physiologist

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust; Slough; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cardiology Investigations Unit (CIU) at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of diagnostic testing for in-patients and outpatients. The post holder will deliver senior professional, clinical and operational leadership for Cardiac Physiology across FHFT to ensure safe, effective and sustainable services.

The role has responsibility for supporting delivery against activity, quality, workforce, access and performance requirements and for developing services in line with Trust

Qualifications

• Registration with HCPC or AHCS is essential.
• Advanced specialist accreditation/qualification in Rhythm Management.
• BSc Clinical Physiology / Healthcare Science or equivalent qualification.

Responsibilities

• Management and leadership of Cardiac Physiology department.
• Ensure induction, appraisal, supervision, development and access to CPD for staff.
• Facilitate education, training, research, audit and continuing professional development for Cardiac Physiology and the wider MDT.
• Independently practise with high level of skill and autonomy in Rhythm Management and related cardiac physiology procedures.
• Supervise and device assessment for brady pacing and complex devices, including implants, follow-up clinics and MRI/surgical support.
• Lead planning of Cardiac Physiology capacity and workload across FHFT sites using demand and waiting-list data.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Staff development

Autonomous decision making

Education

BSc Clinical Physiology / Healthcare Science

HCPC/AHCS registration

Job description

Job Overview

The Cardiology Investigations Unit (CIU) provides a range of diagnostic testing, invasive and non-invasive, for in-patients and outpatients across the Trust. The post holder provides senior professional, clinical and operational leadership for Cardiac Physiology, working across the Trust to ensure safe, effective and sustainable delivery of services.

Job Overview

The Cardiology Investigations Unit (CIU) provides a range of diagnostic testing, invasive and non-invasive, for in-patients and outpatients across the Trust. The post holder provides senior professional, clinical and operational leadership for Cardiac Physiology, working across the Trust to ensure safe, effective and sustainable delivery of services.

The role has responsibility for supporting delivery against activity, quality, workforce, access and performance requirements and for developing services in line with Trust strategy, national standards and the needs of the local population.

Main duties of the job

• Management and Leadership of Cardiac Physiology department
• Ensure all staff receive appropriate induction, appraisal, supervision, development and access to continuing professional development.
• To facilitate education, training, research, audit and continuing professional development for Cardiac Physiology and the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Independently practise with a high level of skill and autonomy at Expert Specialist level in Cardiac Rhythm Management and undertake other cardiac physiology procedures appropriate to the post holder's competence.
• Supervise and device assessment for both brady pacing and complex devices. This includes new implants, follow-up pacing clinics and procedural support during MRI and surgery. Generate complete reports to a high standard.
• Take a lead role in planning Cardiac Physiology capacity and workload across FHFT sites, using demand, activity, workforce and waiting-list information.

Working for our organisation

Visa Sponsorship

This position is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must already hold the right to work in the UK for the full duration of the contract.

Why Join Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust?

At Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, our people are at the heart of everything we do.

As a Disability Confident Employer and recipient of the Gold Award in the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme, we actively champion equality, diversity and inclusion, creating opportunities for people from all backgrounds to build rewarding careers within the NHS.

We also recognise the importance of a healthy work-life balance. By supporting flexible working arrangements wherever possible, we enable our colleagues to balance their professional and personal commitments while continuing to deliver outstanding care to our patients. Whether flexibility means adjusted hours, part-time working, hybrid arrangements or alternative working patterns, we work in partnership with our staff to meet both individual and service needs.

Join Us

Whether you're at the start of your career or looking for your next challenge, Frimley Health offers the opportunity to be part of a inclusive, forward-thinking organisation that is committed to excellence, innovation and compassionate care. Together, we can shape the future of healthcare and make a real difference to the lives of the communities we serve.

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Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

To find out more information of detailed responsibilities, please see attached Job Description and Person Specification.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• BSc Clinical Physiology / Healthcare Science or qualifying equivalent qualification
• Registration with HCPC or AHCS
• Relevant advanced specialist accreditation/qualification in Rhythm Management

Desirable criteria

• EHRA CIED Certification
• MSc in Healthcare Science or equivalent professional qualification
• Teaching qualification
• Leadership/management qualification
• Additional relevant professional accreditation

Experience

Essential criteria

• At least 5 years' post-qualification experience in cardiac pacing, including experience working at advanced/expert level (Band 7 or above)
• Experience of managing a cardiology service or specialist area, including organisational and staff management
• Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
• Experience of service development, performance management and workforce planning

Desirable criteria

• Cardiac cath lab experience, including primary PCI
• Participation in cardiac research
• Organisation/provision of education or training courses at regional level
• Experience of contracted/insourced service management

Skills and Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Competent to practice and supervise cardiac pacing checks in a range of settings, including new implants, follow-up clinics, remote alerts and MRI / theatre procedural support
• Strong leadership and people-management skills
• Ability to work autonomously and make decisions in complex situations

Desirable criteria

• Experience of benchmarking services against other major centres
• Knowledge of commissioning, contracting and business case development
• Experience of leading transformation programmes

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (FHFT) is proud of its strong reputation, record of achievement and ambition for the future. We serve a population of over 900,000 people across Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and South Buckinghamshire, and remain committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities.

Our new organisational strategy – FHFT 2030 – sets out its ambition to be the best place to receive care and the best place to work in the NHS. Underpinned by our Trust values – Committed to Excellence, Working Together, Facing the Future, and being a modern, compassionate, Healthcare Organisation – we are creating a culture where our people can thrive and patients always come first.

We continue to invest heavily in our services and facilities. This includes the development of a new hospital at Frimley Park, major expansion of diagnostics and inpatient capacity, and the continued transformation of services across our sites. We have already delivered a brand-new £100m state-of-the-art Heatherwood Hospital, a £49m Emergency Assessment Centre at Wexham Park, and a £10m upgrade to maternity services.

We are also committed to sustainability and the NHS Net Zero ambition. Our new hospital and estate developments are being designed to be environmentally responsible, energy efficient, and future-proofed, featuring on-site renewables energy and intelligent energy systems. Through our green plan, we are embedding sustainable practices across all areas of care and operations, ensuring we reduce our environmental impact while improving population health and wellbeing. Our staff are key to helps us deliver on our ambition and to ensure sustainability is a core component of care delivery and our operations.

Alongside estates’ investments, we are embedding a strong focus on digital innovation and quality improvement. Our electronic patient record (Epic), launched in 2024, is already enabling safer, more connected, and more effective care for patients, while giving staff the tools they need to do their best work. Our electronic patient record also supports safe and effective digitised care pathways, savings time and carbon, whilst delivering excellent quality of care.

Everything we do is guided by our values, shaping how we care for patients, support colleagues, and build a sustainable future for healthcare together.